SERIES & GRADE:

POSITION INFORMATION:

PROMOTION POTENTIAL:

DUTY LOCATIONS:

WHO MAY APPLY:

Consideration under this vacancy is limited to COP employees.

See ELIGIBILITY below for more information.

JOB SUMMARY:

The CRS Office of Congressional Information and Publishing (CIP) is seeking to fill a one-year detail opportunity via the CRS Career Opportunity Plan (COP) Detail Program. The selectee will join the CIP Congressional Data team for 12 months.

The COP Detail Program is designed to provide eligible CRS staff who are not currently in professional positions the opportunity to obtain creditable experience. Experience gained through this program can be used as qualifying experience when applying for related positions in the Library.

The Congressional Data team adds, updates, and ensures the integrity of data in the client authority file of Mercury, the automated client relationship management system used by CRS. The team is responsible for reviewing and validating Mercury records, as well as troubleshooting areas of concern and resolving errors or inconsistencies in records. Information for clients' records is collected from a variety of electronic sources as well as from telephone conversations with CRS and congressional staff.

The ideal candidate for this detail opportunity will demonstrate:

Strong attention to detail;

Solid computer skills, including skills needed to work with databases (e.g., Mercury), spreadsheets, and web applications in a networked environment;

Fast, efficient data entry skills;

Good interpersonal skills on the telephone; and

The ability to handle delicate requests of information from congressional staff.

ELIGIBILITY

This detail opportunity is available to COP employees. A "COP employee" is defined as a Congressional Research Employees' Association (CREA) bargaining unit employee who occupies either:

A position at the top GS level of a promotion plan, except for positions higher than GS-12, or

A single graded position, except for positions higher than GS-12.

To be eligible, COP employees:

Must have one year of full-time employment in the Library or the equivalent in part-time employment;

Must have permanent status; indefinite status; or a not-to-exceed (NTE) appointment the termination date for which is after the ending date of the detail;

Must not currently occupy the position being advertised; and

Must not have been detailed under the COP Program previously.

PROGRAM

The selectee for this detail opportunity will be assigned duties consistent with this vacancy announcement to the maximum extent possible. His/her work will be reviewed in normal fashion and he/she may be credited with authorship of work as appropriate and as provided in the collective bargaining agreement.

PARTICIPANT'S EVALUATION

The participant's on-the-job performance will be evaluated informally on a continuing basis by the immediate supervisor, and formally at the end of the one-year detail, using performance standards normally applied to occupants of the position at the participant's grade level. Successful completion of the detail shall require performance at an acceptable level of competence for the period of the detail. An employee who successfully completes the program shall receive a memorandum documenting the knowledges, skills, and abilities acquired during the detail. Upon completion of the detail, the employee shall be returned to his or her regular position. A participant may be terminated from the detail at any time for failure to perform at an acceptable level of competence or for conduct which interferes with the mission of the agency. If the participant is terminated from the detail, he or she shall be returned through established personnel procedures to his or her former position. CREA shall be notified of the termination. The decision to terminate shall be final and binding and shall not be appealable, grievable, or considered adverse.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

One year of Specialized Experience (defined as: “experience that equips you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to perform successfully the duties of this detail opportunity, and that is typically in or related to the detail position”). To be creditable, this specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e., at the GS-07 grade level in the federal service or at a comparable level of difficulty outside the federal service); OR

One full year of graduate education.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL, AND ABILITY REQUIREMENTS

The following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), gained through education, experience and/or training, will be evaluated in the structured interview. To be considered for final selection, applicants must demonstrate fully acceptable experience in these KSAs in the structured interview.

Knowledge of CRS automated systems (Knowledge of CRS automated systems sufficient to research, identify, enter, update, organize, and maintain data. This includes adding, updating, editing, and deleting records. This also includes logically examining, interpreting, and synthesizing information from different documents or sources, identifying implications of information and drawing appropriate conclusions, generating and assessing alternative sources of information, and evaluating consequences of using other information sources.)

Ability to attend to detail (The ability to attend to and verify the accuracy and completeness of detailed information. This includes the ability to identify missing or inconsistent data and perform quality control functions with respect to data. This also includes the ability to verify numerical information in documents or on computer screens, such as tables, forms, or lists for accuracy and completeness.)

Ability to interact collaboratively with others (The ability to work well and cooperate with others, including those holding divergent and/or opposing views and goals. This includes showing understanding and respect for others. This also includes relating well to people from varied and diverse backgrounds (e.g., cultural, racial, ethnic, gender, age, educational, professional) as well as dealing effectively with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed.)

Ability to communicate orally (The ability to speak clearly, politely, and under control to peers, staff, managers, supervisors, and external audiences to both provide and seek information. This also includes actively listening to and understanding information; and listening to and answering questions thoughtfully and completely.)

.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

SELECTION PROCESS.

The Library's Office of Human Resources Services (HRS) will review applications for minimum qualifications (as defined under QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED above). Applicants whose applications are determined to be incomplete or not qualified will be so advised and given the opportunity to request reconsideration of their resume within seven work days of receipt of such notice.

All applicants determined to be minimally qualified for this GS-08 detail opportunity will have the opportunity to be interviewed by an interview panel of three members, one of whom will be the selecting official.

If selected, and GS-08 is higher than your current grade, you will be temporarily promoted to the GS-08 level for the duration of the detail.

BENEFITS:

The selectee for this detail opportunity will retain his or her elected Library of Congress benefits.

OTHER INFORMATION:

The Library of Congress is an equal opportunity employer. Women, men, minorities, and persons with disabilities who meet eligibility requirements are strongly encouraged to apply.

This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify this agency. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Applications must be submitted by the closing date of this announcement.

The Congressional Research Service, within the Library of Congress, is part of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. As such, all positions are in the excepted service.

The salary range indicated reflects the locality pay adjustment for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. If selected for a grade higher than his/her current grade, the selectee will be temporarily promoted to that grade for the duration of the detail.

This detail opportunity may be extended by mutual consent between the Library and CREA after consultation with the employee. Upon completion of the detail, the employee shall be returned to his or her former position without loss of federal service tenure or seniority.

Appointment/retention is subject to a favorable evaluation of an appropriate personnel security/suitability investigation.

This is a non-supervisory, bargaining unit detail opportunity.

The tour of duty for this detail opportunity is full-time.

The position description number for this detail opportunity is 235739.

The selectee for this detail opportunity may elect to work a flexitime work schedule.

The Library reserves the right to fill a lesser or greater number of vacancies indicated during the life of this vacancy announcement.

Step 2: Click the "APPLY ONLINE" button to the right of this announcement. Log into your USAJOBS account, or create an account if you do not already have one.

Step 3: Follow USAJOBS' instructions to submit your resume. You may either upload a Federal style resume (e.g., Word or PDF file) into USAJOBS or use the Resume Builder in the USAJOBS website.

Step 4: You will be redirected to the Library's Hiring Management website to complete the application process. If this is your first time in Hiring Management, you will be required to answer questions related to your eligibility for federal employment and requested to provide demographic information.

Step 5: Attach transcripts (official or unofficial) of all completed graduate courses or a self-prepared course list showing grades and the number of credits received. Note: transcripts are optional, but will be required if you wish to be considered on the basis of your graduate education.

Step 6: Click "Finish" to submit your application. You will be redirected to USAJOBS with notification that your application has been completed. You may check the status of your application at any time by signing into your USAJOBS account and clicking "Application status."

If you are experiencing any technical difficulty with the online process, you MUST CONTACT jobhelp@loc.gov, no later than 4:30 p.m. EST of the Closing Date.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

Optional (if you wish to be considered on the basis of your graduate education): Transcripts (official or unofficial) of all completed graduate courses or a self-prepared course list showing grades and the number of credits received.